[Federal Register: December 24, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 247)]
[Notices]
[Page 74555-74556]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24de03-53]
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COMMITTEE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE AGREEMENTS
Request for Public Comments on Commercial Availability Request
under the United States-Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)
December 22, 2003.
AGENCY: The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
ACTION: Request for public comments concerning a request for a
determination that certain shirting fabrics, for use in blouses, cannot
be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a
timely manner under the CBTPA.
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SUMMARY: On December 18, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition
from School Apparel, Inc. alleging that certain shirting fabrics,
classified in subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS), used in the production of
women's and girls' blouses, cannot be supplied by the domestic industry
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. It requests that blouses
of such fabrics cut and sewn in one or more CBTPA beneficiary country
be eligible for preferential treatment under the CBTPA. CITA hereby
solicits public comments on this request, in particular with regard to
whether such shirting fabrics can be supplied by the domestic industry
in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Comments must be submitted
by January 8, 2004, to the Chairman, Committee for the Implementation
of Textile Agreements, room 3001, United States Department of Commerce,
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Heinzen, International Trade
Specialist, Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S. Department of
Commerce, (202) 482-3400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: Section 213(b)(2)(A)(v)(II) of the Caribbean Basin
Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), as added by Section 211(a) of the
CBTPA; Section 6 of Executive Order No. 13191 of January 17, 2001.
[[Page 74556]]
BACKGROUND:
The CBTPA provides for quota- and duty-free treatment for
qualifying textile and apparel products. Such treatment is generally
limited to products manufactured from yarns or fabrics formed in the
United States or a beneficiary country. The CBTPA also authorizes
quota- and duty-free treatment for apparel articles that are both cut
(or knit-to-shape) and sewn or otherwise assembled in one or more CBTPA
beneficiary country from fabric or yarn that is not formed in the
United States, if it has been determined that such fabric or yarns
cannot be supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in
a timely manner. In Executive Order No. 13191, the President delegated
to CITA the authority to determine whether yarns or fabrics cannot be
supplied by the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely
manner under the CBTPA and directed CITA to establish procedures to
ensure appropriate public participation in any such determination. On
March 6, 2001, CITA published procedures in the Federal Register that
it will follow in considering requests. (66 FR 13502).
On December 18, 2003, the Chairman of CITA received a petition from
School Apparel, Inc., alleging that certain shirting fabrics, of HTS
subheading 5513.11 and 5513.21, not of square construction, containing
more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of
average yarn number exceeding 70 metric, cannot be supplied by the
domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner and
requesting quota- and duty-free treatment under the CBTPA for women's
and girls' blouses that are both cut and sewn in one or more CBTPA
beneficiary country from such fabrics.
CITA is soliciting public comments regarding this request,
particularly with respect to whether these fabrics can be supplied by
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner. Also
relevant is whether other fabrics that are supplied by the domestic
industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner are substitutable
for the fabrics for purposes of the intended use. Comments must be
received no later than January 8, 2004. Interested persons are invited
to submit six copies of such comments or information to the Chairman,
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements, room 3100, U.S.
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington,
DC 20230.
If a comment alleges that these shirting fabrics can be supplied by
the domestic industry in commercial quantities in a timely manner, CITA
will closely review any supporting documentation, such as a signed
statement by a manufacturer of the fabrics stating that it produces the
fabrics that are the subject of the request, including the quantities
that can be supplied and the time necessary to fill an order, as well
as any relevant information regarding past production.
CITA will protect any business confidential information that is
marked ``business confidential'' from disclosure to the full extent
permitted by law. CITA will make available to the public non-
confidential versions of the request and non-confidential versions of
any public comments received with respect to a request in room 3100 in
the Herbert Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20230. Persons submitting comments on a request are
encouraged to include a non-confidential version and a non-confidential
summary.
James C. Leonard III,
Chairman, Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements.
[FR Doc. 03-31878 Filed 12-22-03; 4:24 pm]